Travel Guide Guatapé

Located 80 km east of Medellin, Guatapé is a small and charming village on the shores of the artificial lake El Peñol, the largest water reserve in the region and the main supplier of electricity. It is a very touristy village for both Colombians and foreigners. It is known for its zócalos, those friezes in relief on the walls of the colored houses that refer to the customs and legends of the region. A century-old tradition whose origin is still unclear, with several versions that will be told to you in the village. There are many restaurants along the Malecón, the pedestrian avenue that runs along the lake, offering freshly caught trout or typical meat dishes. And you can digest in a deck chair on board a boat that cruises the clear waters of the immense artificial water reserve with its many islands. The courageous will climb to the top of the Piedra del Peñol (or Peñol de Guatapé), a 220 meter high monolith, to appreciate one of the most spectacular landscapes in Colombia.